“The advisory board with the expertise and enthusiasm it brings, will keep the work on track,” the Culture Secretary said. “Everyone, especially schoolchildren, should get the chance to understand what happened all those years ago, how it came about and what it tells us about how we live our lives today.”

Further members will join the group in future, including a Scottish Government representative, while others may be co-opted as and when required by the Chairman.

Members of the board

Pat Barker, novelist and author of the Regeneration Trilogy

Admiral Lord Boyce, former First Sea Lord, Chief of the Naval Staff and Chief of the Defence Staff

Professor Michael Burleigh, academic, author and historian

Sir Menzies Campbell MP

General Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff

Jeffrey Donaldson MP, Special representative for Northern Ireland

Sebastian Faulks, broadcaster, novelist and author of Birdsong

Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, former Chief of defence staff

Sir Deian Hopkin, Special representative for Wales and President of the National Library of Wales

David McDonough, Chairman of the PR consultancy The McDonough Partnership

Dr Andrew Murrison MP, the Prime Minister’s special representative in the centenary planning